There’s a debate going on for quite a while now, regarding the Bluetooth headphones vs wired.
True, in the office plenty of people have recognized the value of wearing headphones.
If you’re sharing space with other workers, using desk speakers can be disruptive.
With Bluetooth or wired headphones, you certainly bother no one with your music.
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Headphones in the Office
There are plenty of good reasons why so many office workers are using pairs of headphones these days.
Regardless of which camp you’re in regarding the Bluetooth headphones vs wired debate, the headphones deliver music to your ears.
Benefits of Headphones
Your music can rejuvenate you when you’re flagging, or it can inspire you and spark your creativity.
You can also try some websites that offer a wide variety of background sounds that can help you.
Some of these background sounds can block out distracting office chatter or even help you relax.
Of course, wired or wireless headphones can already physically keep you from hearing much of the noise on the office.
Also, headphones tend to discourage other people in the office from disturbing you when you’re working.
You’ll get more things done, because fewer people are bothering you to engage in small talk or office gossip.
FAQs
What’s the difference between wireless and Bluetooth headphones?
Basically, they’re the same.
Some brands market their Bluetooth headphones as wireless devices, to make sure people understand that they don’t need to bother with headphone cables.
Bluetooth is a type of wireless technology, so “wireless” in this case is the umbrella term.
It’s just that Bluetooth is strictly a 2-way wireless communication between enabled devices (meaning both needs to have Bluetooth capabilities).
The term “wireless connectivity”, on the other hand, tend to refer most of the time to wi-fi Internet connections.
Why not go with wireless earbuds?
One of the main issues with these things is that they’re easier to lose.
Also, earbuds in general aren’t as comfortable to use as headphones.
Many also say that the quality of sound from earbuds isn’t as good as with headphones.
Top 5 Reviews for Bluetooth or Wired Headphones
We have you covered whichever you may side with in the Bluetooth headphones vs wired debate.
Here are some of the best buys among the Bluetooth or wired headphones.
Our TOP 5 Bluetooth Headphones Vs Wired
1. Mpow 059 Bluetooth Headphones Over Ear
“Comfy Headphones for Air Travel”
Our Rating: 4.5
With the “Bluetooth” in its name, this Mpow 059 gets rid of any annoyance you may have with cables on your headphones.
This comes in 8 colors and color combinations.
You may like the basic Deep Black, or go with the Black Gray or Black Red combination.
There’s also a Rose Gold option plus a truly striking Pink color option.
What’s really striking here, though, is the overall excellence of this set of headphones.
Wired and Wireless
This actually gives you a choice between going wired or wireless.
You can connect this wirelessly with other Bluetooth devices.
You can also just use a cable to connect this to your stereo or radio if it doesn’t have Bluetooth.
With Bluetooth 4.1, the range is about 10 meters.
This also comes with a standard 3.5mm audio cable, but you can use a longer one if you want.
Good Sound Quality
CSR chip which gives you the hi-fi sound you want.
You just need to adjust the equalizer settings in your media player to make sure you get the right sound.
It offers a solid bass, and it doesn’t sound muffled at all.
Just take into account that this only supports the SBC audio codec, so you can’t go with AAC or AptX.
Power
This has a built-in 420mAh battery, which gives you about 13 to even 20 hours of use.
If that’s not enough, then at least you still have the wired option.
Controls
The headphone has built-in controls so you don’t have to fiddle with your audio players to adjust the settings.
This lets you adjust the volume and change tracks.
If you connect this to your smartphone, you can even answer calls since it has a built-in microphone.
Noise Reduction
This doesn’t have active noise cancellation, but that’s not always a bad thing.
This feature can affect the audio quality and also drain the battery.
Besides, the ear cushion enclosing your years can block out most of the sounds around you.
It’s just that people who sit near you may hear your music.
Need Breaks from Wearing
Regardless of which type you choose in the Bluetooth headphones vs wired faceoff, you can’t wear them forever.
You need to take the headphones off your ears every 1 or 2 hours so you can remain comfortable.
Comfortable Memory Protein
Nonetheless, this is more comfortable than most because the “memory protein” ear cushion is designed to mimic the texture of human skin.
The headband also has some soft padding, and the stainless-steel slider lets you adjust this for the best fit on your head.
This also comes with a foldable design so you can bring it on trips, plus it also comes in a portable bag.
Perhaps the only “drawback” is that it weighs almost 11 ounces.
That’s not really heavy, but many of the other Mpow headphones are lighter.
The MpowH17, for example, weighs only 7.65 ounces.
2. COWINE7 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones Bluetooth Headphones with Microphone
“Ideal for Noisy Work Environment”
Our Rating: 4.5
If you have to work in a noisy common workspace, then you’ll like this pair of headphones.
The fact that these come in 6 colors also doesn’t hurt.
The blue and the purple ones are especially nice, especially in a creative department.
Active Noise Cancelling
What you’ll really like here is the active noise cancelling feature.
The technology blocks out the noise in your office more effectively than just headphones that cover your ears.
This is terrific when you work in a truly noisy environment, with vacuum cleaners or mowers working nearby.
You just don’t want to jostle it when the active noise cancelling feature is turned on.
If you do, you’ll hear an annoying crackle.
Audio
The sound quality is quite decent, thanks to the 40mm big speaker drivers.
The volume can get very loud, and you also get a deep bass that makes your music shine.
With the noise cancelling feature, you can get into a fully immersive feeling when you’re gaming or watching a movie.
Comfortable for Extended Wear
This is also very comfortable to wear even for 2 hours straight.
They’re somewhat loose around your ears, so it doesn’t feel constricting.
The ear cushion has a nice skin texture, and the earcups can swivel up to 90 degrees.
It doesn’t weigh much as well.
It would have been nice, though, if there were some padding on the headband.
Connectivity
This lets you connect using Bluetooth and NFC to other Bluetooth devices.
The connection is easily made, and you can walk around without losing the Bluetooth connection.
The Bluetooth distance is also great.
Some people report that they didn’t lose their music even when they were 80 feet away from the audio player or Bluetooth-enabled TV.
You also have the wired option, and your purchase comes with the needed 3.5mm aux cable.
In-Built Controls
This has built-in controls to let you adjust the volume, and of course you’re able to turn on or off the ANC.
You also have a built-in mic here, which lets you answer the calls that your smartphone receives.
Rechargeable Battery
For power during a Bluetooth session, you have a built-in rechargeable battery that only takes 4 hours to fully charge.
Once that’s done, you can get at least 30 hours of playback before the power runs out.
That means you won’t have to recharge this fully every day.
If you’re like most people who only use this for 4 or 5 hours each day, then you probably just need to recharge twice a week.
Durability
This is surprisingly hardy, as you can expect it to last for years.
Sure, after a few years the headphone skin can start to fall off, but that’s just aesthetics.
The battery will still last for a very long time, sound quality will remain consistently good, the buttons will still work and so will the ANC.
3. Sony MDRZX110/BLK ZX Series Stereo Headphones
“Great Headphones for the Price”
Our Rating: 4.5
The Sony brand is one of the most famous in the audio industry for many good reasons.
This MDRZX110 demonstrates why Sony has such a loyal following.
This comes in just 3 colors (rose along with black or white), and you can opt for the mic-less or with mic version.
Either way, these wired cans are extremely affordable, yet they offer great value for your money.
Much Better Cables
You may be resigned about the usual cable issues if you’re going with a wired headphone, but the cable here is much better than the usual cables.
This is 47 inches long, so you can easily connect this to the smartphone in your pocket.
However, you may want to get a longer cable if you wish to use this for your PC.
More importantly, this cable is also both durable and tangle-free.
It’s not as bothersome as you may have feared, since the thick cable won’t give you constant knots to deal with.
Clear and Crisp Audio
When faced with the choice between Bluetooth headphones vs wired, you may have opted for the wired option because of the audio quality.
That’s very evident here, even though the low price may have you expecting substandard stereo sound.
Here you get 30mm drivers that give you clear treble, with crisp vocals that don’t sound “muddy” at all.
Also, the bass response is good enough that you’re able to feel the bass guitar and drum beats.
Decent Comfort
In this price range, it’s probably the most comfortable set of headphones you can get.
That’s true whichever type you pick in the Bluetooth headphones vs wired debate.
Right Amount of Squeeze
For most people, the amount of “squeeze” is just right.
It stays in place when you move, though it’s not really for workouts and other similar types of strenuous activity.
But the earpads are soft enough that you don’t have to take your earrings off.
If for some reason it does feel a bit hard, you can “stretch” the headphones a bit by putting them on a couch armrest for a while.
The earpads also swivel so that they’re at the right angle when they press against your ears.
The folding design of the earpads also makes it easier to pack in your bag when you travel.
4. iJoy Matte Finish Premium Rechargeable Wireless Headphones
“Surprising Competition for Expensive Headphones”
Our Rating: 4.5
This is one of the most affordable headphones you can find, which is surprising given its Bluetooth capabilities.
It is cheapest when you go with the “Stealth” color mode of black and gray, while Rose Gold is the most expensive color option.
All in all, you can pick from among 7 color options.
250mAH Battery
Part of the reason this is affordable is that it only has a 250mAH battery.
That means you’re only able to use this for 6 hours before it runs out of juice.
The good news is that at least it only takes 2 hours to get another full charge.
Also, there’s a female voice that warns you when the battery power gets low.
This isn’t too bad, except that sometimes this voice is too loud.
Decent Sound Quality
You certainly won’t think this is cheap, not when you use it to listen to music.
The sound is clear and crisp, and the bass can really boom.
You also have several EQ presets to work with so you can adjust the quality of the music.
5-Button Controls
These headphones have 5 buttons, which allow you to do several functions and adjustments.
You’re able to adjust the volume and the equalizer, and pick the next or previous track.
This even lets you answer the phone if you’re connected to your smartphone, as it has a built-in mic.
Multiple Audio Inputs
This connects to a Bluetooth device easily enough, with a wireless range of about 10 meters.
However, you also have other sources of music to play.
You can put in a micro-SD card filled with mp3s, and play music.
This even has a built-in radio receiver so you can opt for FM music stations.
Pretty Comfortable
This weighs about half a pound, so it is considerably lightweight.
You have the extremely soft “memory protein” muffs that feel nice around your ears, too.
The headband is adjustable, and it has padding around the headband.
It’s flexible enough to fit most types of head shapes.
It’s great for kids as well, including 3-year-old heads.
5. Panasonic Headphones RP-HT161-K Full-Sized Over-the-Ear
“Best Bang for the Buck”
Our Rating: 4
Here’s another famous brand, but you can understand why Panasonic famous when you try this extremely affordable wired over-ear headphones.
Wired(No Bluetooth)
Yes, this doesn’t have Bluetooth.
But so what?
What’s really good is that the aux cable that comes with the headphones is especially long at 6.5 feet.
This can be a good option for your PC or gaming console.
High Quality Audio
This offers high-quality audio with the dual 30mm neodymium drivers, with a frequency response ranging from 10Hz to 27kHz.
Other models (whether Bluetooth headphones vs wired) tend to offer only the standard range of 20Hz – 20kHz.
The sound is generally crisp, with a nice bass.
This blocks some of the noise around you, but not all of them.
That’s not always a bad thing, in case your boss happens to talk to you.
Great Comfort
These are extremely comfortable to use, with the large muffins fitting nicely around your whole ear.
With its soft padding, adjustable headband, and light weight, you can wear this for hours without hurting afterwards.
Good for 2 Years
With its price, you’re probably ahead in terms of value for money if you get to use this for a year.
You can even get to 2 years of constant use, as long as you don’t toss it around.
Just don’t expect to use this daily and then for it to last for decades.
Bluetooth Headphones Vs Wired: Conclusion
In the Bluetooth headphones vs wired showdown, which one is best for you?
If you’re not sure whether to pick Bluetooth or wired headphones, here’s a quick guide.
Go with Bluetooth If…
You hate having to deal with wires.
This is understandable, since plenty of homes today already have too many wired connections.
If you’re also constantly moving around, go with Bluetooth.
Wired headphones can’t let you move around, and even arm movements can be tricky.
Go with Wired If…
You want good quality music?
Most people acknowledge that among Bluetooth or wired headphones, wired headphones offer better sound quality, which is an undeniable fact.
You also don’t have to worry too much about connection stability.
Bluetooth connections can be unstable when you have too many other Bluetooth connections in the same room.
You won’t have to worry about battery power either.
Make Your Choice
In the end, it’s all up to you.
Bluetooth can be very convenient, but with wired connections you’re able to get higher quality music without worrying about recharging. You just need to prioritize your needs when picking between Bluetooth headphones vs wired options.
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